Williams has Katenko options for Kempton and Gold Cup attempt

In-form trainer Venetia Williams is not ruling anything out at the minute for the seven-year-old, who continued his progression with an emphatic victory at Cheltenham on Saturday.

He was purchased at a sale in France by leading bloodstock agent Guy Petit, son-in-law of North Yorkshire trainer Ferdy Murphy.

“It is an option for him, but I can’t say anything more than that at the moment,” said Williams.

“He’s got an entry in the Racing Plus Chase, he’s got an entry in the Gold Cup, but I don’t know what the plan is yet. He’s fine and we’ll see nearer the time.”

Among the 42 entries is Tom George’s stable stalwart Nacarat, who could make his fifth successive appearance in the valuable three-mile handicap. Triumphant in both 2009 and 2012, the 12-year-old grey was second in 2010 and third in 2011.

Another past winner in the list is the 2011 scorer Quinz. His trainer Philip Hobbs has a strong entry in a race he has already won four times.

He has put in Captain Chris, just beaten by Long Run in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, as well as Menorah and Wishfull Thinking.

What A Friend, part-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, is one of five entries from the Paul Nicholls stable while Richard Lee has last year’s runner-up Hector’s Choice.

Meanwhile, Peter Casey believes Flemenstar is “better than he ever was” ahead of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown in 10 days time.

Having looked all over the winner rounding the home turn on his first attempt at three miles in the Lexus Chase last month, the seven-year-old began to tread water after the final fence and was caught close home by both Tidal Bay and First Lieutenant.

Given he was beaten by just three-quarters of a length, connections are keen to have a second attempt at the longer distance. Casey said: “He’s in really great form at the moment. Saturday week is going to tell us whether he stays three miles or not.”

Flemenstar holds Cheltenham entries in the two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase, the two-mile-five-furlong Ryanair Chase and the extended three-and-a-quarter-mile Gold Cup.

Another Hennessy entry is China Rock who is trained by the Ampleforth-educated Mouse Morris. Last season’s Punchestown Gold Cup hero missed the first part of the new campaign and did not reappear until the Lexus where he finished fifth.

Morris is confident his charge will improve for his next run and is keen to see how he fares before making plans for the spring.

Two Morris inmates who are Festival-bound are the aforementioned First Lieutenant and Rule The World.

First Lieutenant is bound for the Gold Cup, while runaway Naas winner Rule The World is prominent in ante-post lists for both the Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett.

“It’s so far so good with them. We’ve had no hiccups yet but there is still over a month to go, which is a long time,” said the trainer. “I would say Rule The World will probably run in the two-mile-five-furlong race (Neptune), but I don’t want to commit to that just yet.”